As a refresher, this is a device we'd heard would rock the Android midrange with a 5 megapixel AF cam, 3.1-inch QVGA display, and HSPA for a Q1 '10 release, so it's not much more than a tweaked CLIQ as far as we're concerned -- but the big news here might actually be that the Motus filing adds legitimacy to the leaked roadmap where we'd originally heard of it. That document made mention of a "Sholes Tablet" that takes the already-high-end DROID / MILESTONE further upmarket with an 8 megapixel cam and xenon flash, and as you can imagine, we'll be listening to our friends at the FCC pretty intently over the next few weeks to see if we can catch that one sliding through.

Anonymous, 09 Nov 2009After US and Germany, the Motorola Milestone is finally made official in Brazil. According to ... moreI'm excited that Milestone is coming to brazil, but considering that the Treo Pro that unlocked cost US$340 in amazon, in brazil, it cost at least US$1200 with a 2000min plan in the Claro carrier, something similar happens with the Iphone, cellphone prices in carriers are ridiculous.

• The Wall Street Journal (Walt Mossberg): "It's the best super-smart phone Verizon offers, the best Motorola phone I've tested and the best hardware so far to run Android. I can recommend the Droid to Verizon loyalists who have lusted for a better smart phone, but don't want to switch networks."

• Time: "The Droid is without a doubt the best Android device currently available; it's also the best phone Verizon has to offer and it doesn't hurt that Verizon is the best network. ... [It] comes in a close second to the iPhone in terms of a seamless user experience."

• Gizmodo: "If you don't buy an iPhone, buy a Droid. It's the best phone on Verizon, and with Android 2.0, the second best smartphone you can buy, period. It's flawed, deeply in some ways. But it's the second best phone around, on the best network around."

• Engadget: "It's hard not to recommend the Droid to potential buyers eager to do more with their devices. It's easily the best Android phone to date, and when you couple the revamped OS, Verizon's killer network, and an industrial design straight from a gadget enthusiast's fever-dream, it makes for a powerful concoction."

• Boy Genius Report: "We absolutely love the Motorola Droid. It's a perfect storm between awesome hardware, great software, and a great network."

• SlashGear: "The Verizon Droid by Motorola sets the bar for all new Android devices and is arguably the best Android device to date. ... While the Droid lacks the Apple handset's finesse and polish, it's only a few steps behind."

DROID vs Sprint HTC Hero
The HTC Hero is currently the best available Android phone on the market. It packs subtle curve lines and houses a professional finish. We loved the build quality of the Hero and still do--it feels great in your hand and the soft matte finish is still wonderful. The DROID differs from the Hero in that the lines are sharp instead of curved and the styling is bold instead of safe. The DROID and Hero are about the same thickness but the DROID packs a QWERTY slider keyboard and is much weightier.

The biggest difference between the two devices is in the size of the screen. The DROID's screen simply dwarfs the Hero's and the clarity that the DROID's screen offers is truly stunning. In the end, though we prefer holding the Hero in the hand, the DROID is simply a superior styled device.

DROID vs iPhone 3GS
And of course, what kind of DROID comparison would it be if we didn't bring up the iDon't device that is the iPhone 3GS? We'll definitely go more in-depth later in the week, but for the time being you should know that the DROID and iPhone 3GS are probably the two best styled, two best built, two best overall smartphones on the market. Android finally has a phone that can legitimately compete with the leader of the pack, the iPhone 3GS, in every aspect.

What's most surprising to us is that even though the DROID packs a QWERTY slider keyboard, it still manages to almost be as thin as the iPhone 3GS. In fact, the devices are of similar height and width--in pictures, the DROID looks bigger because of its hard corners vs the iPhone 3GS' rounded corners. The DROID is certainly heavier than the iPhone but that lends into the high-quality, luxury feel of the DROID.

And finally, when pitted next to each other. The DROID's screen simply puts the iPhone 3GS' screen to shame. We're not even kidding. It's impossible to capture the difference in pictures but text on the iPhone 3GS looks almost blurry when compared to text on the DROID. If you're happy with your iPhone 3GS, don't even look at the DROID's screen, you'll become instantly jealous. The specs show that the DROID packs a 3.7-inch 480x854 touchscreen at 240dpi versus the iPhone's 3.5-inch 320x480 touchscreen at 163dpi. Yeah, the DROID screen is awesome.

The Arm Cortex A8 processor really shines through and performance on the DROID is amazingly speedy.

Let's be honest, the speed bump was much needed in Android and we're very happy that the DROID launched with this new processor (iPhone 3GS & Pre have it). We think that this is the new standard for smartphones and hope to see it pop up in more Android devices in the near future. It's definitely capable enough to put us through until Snapdragon becomes usable. As long as we can all agree not to go back to the dark ages of the G1 on 1.0, we'll be satisfied.

This is where the DROID will simply stun users. We can't even exaggerate how beautiful the screen is. It's a 3.7-inch screen with 480x854 resolution that combines vibrant colors and wonderful rendering of text. Everything looks crystal clear. Compared to the iPhone 3GS 3.5-inch 320x480 screen, it's really no contest--the iPhone looks downright old. Once you look at the DROID screen, you'll wonder why this isn't the new standard and why your phone doesn't have it--old screens become borderline blurry.
The DROID's touchscreen is also the most responsive touchscreen we've had on an Android device.

The back of the DROID is certainly notable. The strip of gold that lines the speaker gives the DROID a kind of throwback, luxurious look in a world of aluminum, plastic, and chrome. The back of the DROID also houses a matte finish that offers much needed traction to a sharp phone

Anonymous, 01 Jan 1970did you mean if there is a guy who complain or dislike this phone then you will say they are a kid? i think you are a kid you are not qualified. how do you know their complain is wrong ? if they are right?

Did you know - the main keys (search/home/menu/back) are actually touch commands sent to the screen (learned that the hard way after attempting to write an application to the device).
Motorola are really acting like birds right now... "Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!"

Jerry, 11 Nov 2009I'm so happy to read ur comment because this shows Moto Droid is going well but still I will g... morethanks 4 ur comment I think Droid is the best on the internet featuring and Iphone is a bit faster than Droid

I'm so happy to read ur comment because this shows Moto Droid is going well but still I will give my option about the cpu easy to know how fast the Droid is just go to google on search and type Moto Droid vs Iphone 3gs and get the video comparing both phone and u will see that Droid is doing well on Android 2 and have almost the same speed as the Iphone and not only the speed check out who's phone is best or u would like to get thanks

Romani, 11 Nov 2009Take it easy on anonymous Vin...he just didnt understand the sarcasm, even though it was painf... moreYeah, I agree with you, take it easy vin, yesterday anonymus arguing with "cain" and now with you, he act like a children I trought

Anonymous, 11 Nov 2009the problem is your unlogical sarcasm
why 2018?
who said that motorola milestone is outdate?... morewell, that's the problem I have with the fact I'm responding to many different "anonymous".
At the end some people don't understand who i am talking to (I'm not talking necessarily about you, it gets confusing for me too as I don't know who is answering to me). ;)

One of them was complaining about the CPU, saying it would be a huge difference between 550MHz and 600MHz.
I tried to explain nicely that he was right in one way, but that he couldn't only rely on the CPU speed. other things were to be taken in account.
I had the opportunity to try the device and I found it really snappy (and so did ALL the review of this phone I found on the web so far).

Another one was arguing with cain that the motorola milestone (or droid) wasn't the fastest android out there and was actually speaking of the X10 and its 1GHz CPU as a rival to the milestone : this is when I began sarcastic with my 2018 story.

And then, with the last one , I apologize since apparently i was a bit too harsh with him or her. ;)

Vinny, 11 Nov 2009OMG...
are you tired and didn't read the whole thing or do you do it on purpose?
I said: "... morethe problem is your unlogical sarcasm
why 2018?
who said that motorola milestone is outdate?
he just said" The cpu perfomance of this phone is not enough for the hardware, software and alot of such features" he though the cpu is good for 1.6 version and not this version. he didnt say this phone is bad, isnt it? maybe you can say this phone is fast but he though if this phone used android 1.6 version it would be faster than this. i think he like this phone but he just dont like the cpu perfomance.

Romani, 11 Nov 2009Take it easy on anonymous Vin...he just didnt understand the sarcasm, even though it was painf... moreI tried to be as nice as possible.
But yeah... the sarcasm was quite obvious I thought.
And I start getting tired of people calling "motorola fans" whoever is saying nice thing about the Milestone.
We're not necessary fan of the brand, but we just appreciate a nice piece of device when we see one.

So I apologize if I was more aggressive than intended. ;)

This "anonymous" guy just got caught in the conversation with the other "anonymous", the one that "cain" was talking to.

Vinny, 11 Nov 2009OMG...
are you tired and didn't read the whole thing or do you do it on purpose?
I said: "... moreTake it easy on anonymous Vin...he just didnt understand the sarcasm, even though it was painfully obvious :-)